FOLLOWING months of delays a developer set to transform a promenade eyesore revealed this week that work will resume in May.

Since Rhyl Funfair was demolished in September, 2007, to make way for a multi-million pound housing and retail development, the area has lain empty and has been a target for vandals and arsonists.

Residents of Rhyl have repeatedly complained about how unsightly the area looks. Since work came to a standstill last May, the Visitor has been inundated with calls and e-mails from concerned residents keen to know what was happening with the site, particularly as rumour was the developer had pulled out.

But Manchester-based developer Modus Properties was actually forced to delay work last year as environmental conditions were thrashed out for the £85m development, but now all this is sorted work on Phase One will get underway in May.

This first phase includes the building of an Asda supermarket, flood defence works and a highways link. Further developments at the site include 200 apartments, a hotel and pubs.

The news comes the week after the former Downtown nightclub, which is to be demolished as part of the development, was torched by arsonists (see page 6).

A Modus spokeswoman said: “We are hoping to start the phase one works in May and these units will be demolished then, but if someone from the council makes a very strong case for demolition now, we will consider it.”

Cllr Mike Espley said he was pleased to hear the burnt building will be down in time for the summer, but said it would be nice if it was removed before the Easter holidaymakers arrive in the town.

“While May is not too far off, it would be good if they could be down sooner as visitors start to arrive from Easter so really the sooner these buildings come down the better for Rhyl,” he said.

Councillors at a meeting of Denbighshire’s full council granted permission for the building of the Ocean Plaza development in May, 2007.